Exhaust gas cleansing system

ABSTRACT

The exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine is connected to a header pipe that branches to parallel connected inlet ports of a liquid cooled condenser and a muffler. The outlet ports of the condenser and muffler are connected in parallel to a tailpipe. A conduit section communicates between the interior of the muffler and the inlet port of the condenser thereby enabling some of the gas acted upon by the muffler to be also treated by passage through the condenser. A substantial amount of hydrocarbon material condenses in the condenser so that purified exhaust gas is delivered from the outlet port of the condenser to the tailpipe.

O United States Patent 1 1 3,691,772 Cross [45] Sept. 19, 1972 [54] EXHAUST GAS CLEANSING SYSTEM [72] Inventor: Sidne E. Cr 416 E. M Primary Examiner-Douglas Hart son, x i? abel Tue Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1970 211 App]. No.: 85,167 [57] ABSTRACT The exhaust manifold of an internal combustion en- [52] US. Cl. ..60/320 gine is connected a header pipqth'fit branches to [51] Int. Cl ..F0ln 3/02 parallel connected mlet ports of a cooled 58 Field of Search ..60/31, 30 L, 309, 320; dense and a muffler- The the denser and muffler are connected 1n parallel to a tall- 55/DlG. 3O

pipe. A conduit section communicates between the m- [56] References Cited terior of the muffler and the inlet port of the condenser thereby enablmg some of the gas acted upon UNITED STATES PATENTS by the muffler to be also treated by passage through the condenser. A substantial amount of hydrocarbon "60/30 L material condenses in the condenser so that purified 4025 51 9/1968 232; exhaust gas is delivered from the outlet port of the 3,456I439 7/1969 Hale .....IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII6O/31 condenser to the 2,038,313 4/1936 Placko ..60/30 L 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PA'TENTED SEP 19 m2 Sidney E. Cross IN I 'II.\' TO R EXHAUST GAS CLEANSING SYSTEM THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to emission control devices for internal combustion engine vehicles and more particularly to a combination of a condenser and muffler which reduces the hydrocarbon content of exhaust gases.

SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART During the present time, state and federal laws require emission control devices on vehicles having internal combustion engines. The most prevalent approach to emission control includes apparatus for feeding back a certain amount of emission gas into the combustion chambers where it is recombusted. Although the efficiency of the presently employed apparatus is debated by experts, it is generally agreed that presently installed emission control devices lower the performance characteristics of vehicles. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide vehicles with a system for cleansing or filtering exhaust gas without interfering with the performance of a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes the provision of liquid cooled condenser and a muffler combination that simultaneously operate upon exhaust gases coming from the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine. The outlet ports of the condenser and muffler are jointly connected to a tailpipe through which cleansed gas flows. A conduit communicates the interior of the muffler to the inlet portion of the condenser. Thus, the condenser actually operates upon the joined flow from the exhaust manifold of the engine and a controlled amount of gas that is fed back from the muffler.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside'in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

The FIGURE illustrates the connection of a header pipe to the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine. The delivery end of the header pipe is connected to the condenser-muffler combination that constitutes the heart of the invention;

Referring to the drawing, the cleansing or filtering system of the present invention is indicated by reference numeral 10. The system is connected between the exhaust manifold terminal 12 of an internal combustion engine 14 and a tailpipe 16.

A header pipe 18 is connected to the exhaust manifold terminal. The header pipe branches off in two directions. In the first direction, a conduit section 20 communicates with the header pipe 18 and continues to the inlet port 22 of a fluid cooled condenser 26. The outlet port 28 of the condenser communicates with a conduit section 30 which is connected to the tailpipe 16. As indicated in the FIGURE, the interior of the condenser 26 includes a coiled pipe 24 which conducts exhaust gas between the inlet and outlet ports 22 and 28, respectively. A cylindrical jacket 32 surrounds the coil 24 and fluid 34 is contained within the jacket and may be supplied thereto from and withdrawn therefrom to any suitable source of cooling fluid (not shown). Preferably, the fluid employed is anti-freeze", such as a mixture of water and ethylene glycol. A filling plug 36 is mounted in the wall of the jacket to allow the jacket to be filled with the fluid and to enable gases to be vented from the jacket. Heated exhaust gases from the header pipe 18 enter the coil 24 of the condenser which cools the exhaust gas. As a result of the cooling, a substantial amount of hydrocarbon material is condensed from the exhaust gas flow. Therefore, a relatively clean or purified gas exits from the outlet port 28.

A junction point 38 is defined at the intersection of the header pipe 18 and the conduit section 20. At this junction point an additional conduit section 40 appears in communicating relationship with the header pipe 18. The pipe section 40 delivers a portion of exhaust gas to the intake port 42 of a muffler 44 which generally resembles a muffler employed on automotive vehicles. More particularly, the muffler 44 includes a cylindrical casing 45 enclosing baffle plates 46. An exhaust port 47 communicates with the intake port 42 so that a portion of the exhaust gas entering the intake port 42 is delivered at the exhaust port 47 which in turn communicates with tailpipe 16. A conduit section 48 is disposed within the interior of the muffler 44 with the purpose of feeding back a certain amount of the exhaust gas entering the intake port 42 to a second exhaust port 50 that is physically disposed adjacent the intake port 42. A conduit section 52 connects the second exhaust port 50 with the inlet port 22 of condenser 26. Accordingly, a portion of the exhaust gas entering the muffler is fed back for processing by the condenser 26.

Junction point 54, defining the intersection of conduit sections 20 and 52, produces a venturi effect in the conduit section 52 into the inlet port 22. In a similar manner the gas exiting from the exhaust port 47 causes a venturi effect at a junction point 56 which is the point of intersection between the conduit section 30 and the tailpipe 16. The venturi effect creates suction in the conduit section 30 which forces gas flow into the inlet port 22 from the conduit sections 20 and 52.

In the operational state, the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is operated upon by the muffler 44 and the condenser 26. Although the muffler 44 passes a portion of the exhaust gas directly to the tailpipe 16, a greater portion of the exhaust gas is either directly operated upon by condenser 26 or fed back to the condenser from the interior of muffler 44 by the feedback conduit section 48. As a result, the gas passing outwardly through the tailpipe 16 is relatively clean or purified due to the filtering action of the condenser, of course, the condensate obtained within the coil 24 of the condenser 26 collects on the inner walls of the coil 24 and is blown therealong, out through the outlet port 28, along the inner walls of the conduit section 30 and thereafter along the inner walls of the tailpipe 16 for discharging in liquid form from the outlet end of the tailpipe 16.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An exhaust emission control system comprising a condenser having an inlet port for receiving a heated flow of gas and an outlet port for exiting the gas that has been reduced by the condenser, a tailpipe connected to the outlet port for conveying the reduced gas along a predetermined path, the inlet port of the condenser being connected in parallel with the intake port of a muffler means, the mufiler means having conduit means communicating between the interior of the muf fier means and the' inlet port of the condenser means for delivering a portion of the flow passing through the mufiler means to the condenser means for processing by the condenser along with the heated flow of gas.

2. In an emission control system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, the component parts comprising a header pipe for connection to an engine exhaust manifold, a condenser communicating with the header pipe for cooling exhaust gas delivered by the manifold, conduit means connected to the outlet port of the condenser means for delivering the gas to a tailpipe, and a muffler having a first intake port connected in parallel with the inlet port of the condenser and an exhaust port communicating with the tailpipe, and conduit means communicating between the muffler interior and the condenser for forming a circulating system producing gas in the tailpipe having a reduced hydrocarbon content. 7

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the condenser includes a coiled conduit through which the gas passes, and a fluid cooling jacket disposed around the coiled conduit for causing condensation of gas flowing in the coiled conduit.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the jacket is filled with anti-freeze.

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1. An exhaust emission control system comprising a condenser having an inlet port for receiving a heated flow of gas and an outlet port for exitinG the gas that has been reduced by the condenser, a tailpipe connected to the outlet port for conveying the reduced gas along a predetermined path, the inlet port of the condenser being connected in parallel with the intake port of a muffler means, the muffler means having conduit means communicating between the interior of the muffler means and the inlet port of the condenser means for delivering a portion of the flow passing through the muffler means to the condenser means for processing by the condenser along with the heated flow of gas.
 2. In an emission control system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, the component parts comprising a header pipe for connection to an engine exhaust manifold, a condenser communicating with the header pipe for cooling exhaust gas delivered by the manifold, conduit means connected to the outlet port of the condenser means for delivering the gas to a tailpipe, and a muffler having a first intake port connected in parallel with the inlet port of the condenser and an exhaust port communicating with the tailpipe, and conduit means communicating between the muffler interior and the condenser for forming a circulating system producing gas in the tailpipe having a reduced hydrocarbon content.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the condenser includes a coiled conduit through which the gas passes, and a fluid cooling jacket disposed around the coiled conduit for causing condensation of gas flowing in the coiled conduit.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the jacket is filled with ''''anti-freeze.'''' 